The Chemical Industry Desperately Wants to Keep Their Products in Your Shopping Cart

I am a typical mom who makes most of the purchasing decisions in my family. I cut coupons, read labels, shop in bulk, and do my best to purchase healthy products. Because I am concerned about exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in food and beverage packaging, I've made a few changes to my shopping list. I bought non-polycarbonate bottles and sippy cups for my daughter, we rarely eat canned food, and I've given up my diet soda habit -- or at least I've cut back. And in the eyes of the chemical industry, I am a prime target in their campaign to improve their image and win back my trust.

The Washington Post reported that just last week a high level meeting took place to devise a strategy for keeping BPA in our food supply. Companies attending the meeting included the Coca-Cola Co. and Del Monte, along with trade groups and other organizations which lobby for the chemical manufacturers such as the North American Metal Packaging Alliance Inc., the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the American Chemistry Council. These companies are on the defensive because moms like me have demanded alternatives. In response, six of the major baby bottle manufacturers have announced they will stop using BPA, major retailers have stopped selling them, and BPA has now been banned from baby bottles and sippy cups in Suffolk County, NY, Chicago and the entire state of Minnesota. The BPA industry wants to prevent any further bans and held this intensive meeting to discuss a strategy for protecting their market share.

Why am I concerned about BPA?  BPA is a hormone disrupting chemical that acts like estrogen and can interfere with normal development and function of the body. In animal studies, BPA exposure has been linked to prostate cancer, breast cancer, pre-diabetes (insulin resistance), fat metabolism, and changes in the way the brain develops resulting in behavioral abnormalities. Emerging human research has found similar evidence of harm. And all of us are exposed; over 90% of Americans tested by the CDC were found to have residues of BPA in their bodies.

The notes from this meeting were verified in the Post article by one of the industry lobbyists as being accurate.

At the top of the industry list of ways to win back the public's trust was their "holy grail" spokesperson identified as a "pregnant young mother who would be willing to speak around the country about the benefits of BPA." Other strategies discussed at the meeting included focusing on how BPA bans would disproportionately put minorities at risk, particularly Hispanics and African-Americans whom they cited as being more inclined to be poor and dependent on canned foods.

In addition, because Connecticut and California are close to passing bans on BPA in infant formula containers, the BPA industry has identified these states as targets where industry "members are focusing on more legislative battles and befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process." Manipulate the legislative process?!

 Manipulating the public, manipulating the legislature and just last month, evidence that the industry has been cozy with the FDA and has manipulated the scientific justification for keeping this chemical approved in our food supply.

While the industry has characterized the campaign to eliminate BPA as "lies," they have resorted to the failed tactics of the tobacco industry by putting profits before protecting the public's health. NRDC will continue to be actively involved in promoting legislation that bans BPA and in advocating for the FDA to revoke their approval of BPA  as a food additive. If you live in California, review our action alert and ask your legislator to support a BPA ban in children's products.

This post originally appeared on NRDC's Switchboard blog.

Comments

[roseau]

It's great to take legislative action because there are tons of poor and working poor families who do not have the time or resources to deal with this, and environmental crimes are hitting them the hardest. But for middle class moms, the most direct route to change for your family and ultimately in the marketplace is...to stop buying the stuff. You can change your mindset from thinking that shiny=clean. An antibiotic­/industria­l food/formula fed 'healthy' kid, sparkling bright clothes, shiny windows, 'fresh scent' car are all products of chemicals. i.e. poison. The irony is that it ends up being cheaper - the hardest part is breaking away from the brainwashing of commercials and other people's idea of what 'clean' and 'healthy' is about. Breast feed your kids. Wipe your counters with a hot cloth (a touch of dish soap to cut grease). Scrub toilets with baking soda and sometimes a hit of vinegar or soap. Stop thinking that if your laundry smells like nothing it isn't clean - that IS clean so get rid of the dryer sheets and the softeners. Here's the thing, all of these things - especially sippy cups for 'busy moms and kids on the go' have been sold to us as ways to save time so we can work more and consume more. Slow down. My first kid lived with a sippy cup in hand for years. Then we slowed down. My second went from boob to regular cup.

[organicfood]

their is a simple way to denounce pesticide and animal growth hormone food, is to teach our kids not to buy these type of food from early. let our kids know how harmful re these type of food is.
www.1wallmart.com

[ldelp84227]

Also while you are shopping for your baby be careful of the detergents, etc. I was always fine with all products but ten years ago became sensitive to the chemicals in our products. There are millions that have this problem. I used Ivory Snow when my daughter was borne and used it for over 13 years-- then I couln't use it any longer.

Not long ago I was looking for zinc oxide to use for sunscreen since the other kinds cause me migraines or vomiting. I saw that baby rash ointment also had zinc oxide, but I couldn't use the kind with baby scent. That chemical also causes problems.

It is so hard to believe that people are not concerned about our products unless they cause illness. You would think that reading about these problems would be of great concern. It is sad that there are so few comments and that this is not on the home page. You would think our safety and our children's is of top priority. I recently wrote Presidnet Obama, maybe he will do something, no one else has and the sick have been writing our legislative leaders for years. Linda

[JSaeger]

...the benefits of BPA, are you kidding me? How do these people sleep at night I wonder. I guess without a conscience it isn't much of an issue. Thank you for raising public awareness regarding this very serious health issue.

[jgrayson]

Now that the California Senate passed the BPA ban, the chemical industry is getting even more desperate:

http://www.theredwhiteandgreen.com/2009/06/03/california-senate-passes-bpa-ban/

[clevelandchick]

Bill Maher gave the greatest 'New Rules' the other night on American Greed....this post is a prime example of how Americans will kill other Americans just o make a buck.

Do any of these sick, twisted company executives and CEO's have kids or grandkids drink from sippy cups made with BPA? I'd bet anyone a million dollars that answer is no.

[Michael Goodson]

Thanks for the heads up. As a California parent, I'll help take action and spread the word.